You may not feel it but, the season is about to change. At 7:49 a.m. Saturday, we'll officially pass from summer to fall. Now, it may feel like summer was over three weeks ago with the end of Labor Day. Or, with the heat this time of year brings, that summer still has a month to go. But by the alignment of the planets and stars, the 22nd is the day when daylight and night hours are as close to equal as possible. Now through Dec. 22, the winter solstice, nights are longer than days, and dark hours increase every day. If you'd like to get in one last shot of sand before it's officially fall, here are some choices.

Newport Beach: Ten miles of coast broken into neighborhood beaches, each with its own character: West Newport for surfers who ride waves off the jetties, just north of the pier for longboarding riders, Balboa Pier for sunbathers and The Wedge for daredevil bodyboarders. To the south are the sedate sands of Corona del Mar, complete with family spots. Though it officially has a Laguna Beach address, Crystal Cove would be placed in Newport Beach's orbit by many older Orange County residents. Long the funky seaside getaway for those lucky or wealthy enough to have a cottage on the sand, it's now a state park where anyone with a reservation (book way ahead) can experience the feel of Eisenhower- (or maybe even Roosevelt-) era Orange County. All these beaches are fun. Take your pick or try them all.

Huntington Beach: So big that during the summer about 100 lifeguards patrol the shores, and communities from around the state send their water-safety officers here to learn the ropes. A favorite of surfers, swimmers, sunners and runners. There's even a paved pathway for bicyclists that runs from Bolsa Chica to the end of the city beach. This stretch has a large number of restaurants and hotels nearby, suitable for bringing in out-of-town guests. Surf City centers along Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street. Though the beachside downtown lost some of its funky vibe with a slick makeover a few years back, it has become a major tourist draw with competing surf shops hosting a surfing walk of fame and a surfing hall of fame.

Laguna Main Beach: A classic California day is speeding (or crawling) down I-405 before swinging west through Laguna Canyon Road, through one of the last protected coastal canyons in Southern California and, after a short drive through "The Village," emerging near the historic lifeguard stand at Laguna Main Beach. This is the California that tourists around the world dream of visiting. The small pocket of sand and surf is usually crowded with strollers, swimmers and people playing volleyball and basketball. A short walk takes you to higher viewpoints over the rock-spotted Pacific and high-end restaurants, stores and hotels. A few pieces of an earlier era are left: sidewalk coffee shops, candy stores and beach shack-style spots. Laguna prides itself on being an artists' colony, with galleries for many tastes.

A view of Main Beach in Laguna Beach PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
It's goodbye to summer in Huntington Beach and other spots along the Orange County coastline. JOSHUA SUDOCK, Register file photo
A beach scene near the Balboa Pier. CINDY YAMANAKA, REGISTER FILE PHOTO
When surf's up in Newport Beach, the drop down can be bone rattling. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A tunnel to the beach at Crystal Cove State Park Cindy Yamanaka, The Orange County Register
Crystal Cove State Park offers picture perfect moments for day trippers. Cindy Yamanaka, The Orange County Register
Surfers walk along Moro Beach in Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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